When is Stalker 2 coming out and will it be on Game Pass?

When is Stalker 2 coming out and will it be on Game Pass?

Stalker 2 launches next week and will immerse players in the Zone, a radioactive wasteland surrounding the Chornobyl nuclear plant.

Let your guard down and you’ll die quickly and frequently, falling prey to blood-thirsty mutants and ravenous humans. Survival is imperative to uncover the game’s powerful artefacts — mysterious items altered by the zone’s almost supernatural energy.

With its massive open world and branching quest lines, the survival horror game sounds like a dream come true for fans of gritty RPGs like the Fallout series.

Here’s what you need to know about Stalker 2, including its release date and platforms.

When is Stalker 2 coming out?

After spending what seemed like an eternity in development, with numerous delays, Stalker 2 is finally releasing on Xbox and PC on Wednesday, November 20.

If it wasn’t bad enough dealing with depraved mutants, you can’t trust the game’s humans either (GSC Game World)
If it wasn’t bad enough dealing with depraved mutants, you can’t trust the game’s humans either (GSC Game World)

What platforms is it on?

You can pre-order the game from Steam, the Epic Games Store, the Microsoft Store for PC, GOG, and the Xbox Store for consoles.

Is it being released on Game Pass?

Stalker 2 is one of the big day-one releases for Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s all-you-can-play gaming service.

That means Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can stream and download it at launch. It will also be offered on the Game Pass for PC plan but not in the Game Pass Standard or Core tiers.

You’ll be thinking twice about taking on side missions if you don’t have enough ammo (GSC Game World)
You’ll be thinking twice about taking on side missions if you don’t have enough ammo (GSC Game World)

Is it on PS5?

Initially, the game will launch on only Xbox Series X/S consoles and PCs. Alas, there’s no word on whether it will be available for PS5 later. Then again, with Xbox recently bringing a smattering of exclusives to Sony’s console, there’s always hope.

What about Geforce Now?

But, don’t go trading in your PS5 just yet. Nvidia has confirmed that Stalker 2 will be available on its cloud gaming service, GeForce Now, upon release. So, if you’re a diehard PlayStation fan with an aversion to Xbox, you’ll have another way to stream it apart from on Game Pass.

What editions are there?

You’ll play as Skif, a stalker on the hunt for ability-enhancing artefacts (GSC Game World)
You’ll play as Skif, a stalker on the hunt for ability-enhancing artefacts (GSC Game World)

You can purchase Stalker 2 in digital and physical editions before its release, each with pre-order bonuses.

So, which one should you get? Here are all the versions of the game that are being sold online.

Digital

Standard edition - £49.99

  • Base game

  • Extended Campfire Content

  • 'Early bird' Weapon Skin

  • 'Early bird' Costume Skin

  • 'Early Bird' Multiplayer Badge

Deluxe Edition - £65.99

Everything in the standard edition, plus:

  • Special extra quest

  • Additional costume and weapon skins

  • Multiplayer costume and weapon skins

  • Digital art book

  • Digital soundtrack

Ultimate Edition - £89.99

Everything in the deluxe edition, plus:

Season pass:

  • 2 story expansion packs

  • All future downloadable content.

Physical

The standard edition is also available as a limited edition, which includes a steelbook cover, patches, keychain, and other accessories, for £69.99.